juliansmom2003

My doc"s instructions are always no food or drink after midnight, no matter what time I go (appts are always in the mornings anyway). I had my first fill while on my period, and I didn't know if the reason I didn't feel any difference was because it was only my first fill or having my period or both. I asked the doc and I got my favorite answer that everyone is different. Sometimes you look more restricted due to your period and some aere unaffected. My doc books 3 to 4 weeks out too, so if I were you and there is no charge, I'd go get one. You can always schedule another if you need more :-) Good luck!

I saw it too Elcee. I wish one of the MODs would just delete this thread already.

I imagine you'll get a few different responses on this. My doc waits until you are on your lifetime (solid) diet and you're 6 weeks post-op before he gives a fill. Not sure what everyone else will say, as there are many different docs and instructions that each of them follow, but that's my story :-)! Good luck to you!!

Gotcha! I have got to get to the store and find the stuff LOL! Thanks for posting about this!

A 10 calorie snapple? HUH????? OMG and I luuuuv me some Bret Michaels! I hadn't even heard of this, now I'm going to be on the hunt LOL Oooh, I forgot he was a diabetic! On the snapple site this says it's 5 calories! Snapple - Made From The Best Stuff On Earth All I have been drinking for the past 8 months has been Water for fear of sugars and stuff. I might need to treat myself to one of these every now and then!!!

Hey there. I think we can all relate to what you're saying. First, congrats on quitting smoking! That's no easy feat (and I speak from experience). Also, you are supposed to be on things that will slide right through as your stomach needs to heal. I am right there with you---I despise Jello. I will figure ANY way around it after I have my fills. Ugh. As far as the weight loss, your body has been through a tremendous amount of trauma. It needs to heal, the fluids are an issue because you were on ivs from the surgery, so that sometimes doesn't help with weight. My doctor told me he doesn't even look at weight loss until 6 weeks post-op, that this initial time is the time for healing and anything we lose during that time is a great bonus (yeah, I wanted to slap him too at the time :thumbup:). I know most of us had a million things on the checklist, jumping through hoops getting insurance approval and doing everything we have to and thinking "as soon as I get my surgery it will all be different". That is the one thing I think the docs and nuts need to reinforce with patience and telling them how hard it will be in the first couple of weeks so you're able to mentally prepare somewhat. It's a difficult time--your body has been through the ringer, you are starving, mourning the loss of one of your best friends and wondering if you did the right thing. I can honestly say that I was in your shoes 8 months ago and looking back, knowing how hard it was, I would do it again in a heartbeat. I have gotten so much from this band I can't imagine being without it. You'll get there....and you have all of us pulling for you to lean on as you continue your journey!!! Hang in there!

Girl, I couldn't relate more to your post!!! It is going soooooooooooooo very slllllllloooowwww right now and I am starting to wonder "Is this it?" I follow the rules to a "t", exercise my butt off and no loss....I have a moment of weakness (a spoonful of FF ice cream or something like that) and STILL no loss, so it's the same no matter if I'm an angel or have a teeny tiny minute of insanity! I am hoping it's not my body telling me it's finished. You have done an amazing job, whether you lose another pound or not. You are 70 lbs down!!!! Yeah! What an achievement! I'd say the hardest part is behind you! I know how hard it can be on most days, but believe me, we're all pulling for you. We can keep each other motivated :thumbup:! You've soooooo got this, girl!

They are having a special now $239 for the Bugg AND the display! Not too shabby!

Are you getting enough water in? Sounds like you're retaining fluid. Mine get like that before my TOM. Believe me, the scale will be fickle during this initial time after surgery. You won't see any movement then BAM! Down 4 or 5! Hang in there, you're doing great!

Oh I hear you! I LOVE mine! I wear it constantly (except in the shower and the pool LOL). The thing is awesome!!!!

Good stuff! I've eaten it while I was on my 3-month pre op plan and after I was banded. My nut says it's fine as long as I can get it down (which I have no problem with whatsoever LOL). Enjoy!

Woohoo! Congrats and welcome to Onederland! keep up the great work!

Yea so I just broke down and called the doc. It really helped that I had breakfast at 10:30 this morning and was hungry again by 12:15. Coincidence to my post this morning? Maybe. But since my doc books quickly for fills, I called and scheduled another. I honestly think I am soooo close. I have restriction (so I'm not dying of hunger), but I just know I'm not 'there'. Perhaps another .2 or .3 should do it. Just a little tweak. My doc gets a kick out of me when I go in though (I feel like I've been in every month for a fill so far). I'm all, "Top me off, doc!" Anyway, 3 weeks until my (hopefully) last fill. I have 5.3 right now in my 10cc band. It's gotta be soooo close. Fingers crossed!

Wow, girl you have certainly been through a lot. Your strength is admirable. You have definitely been a supportive wife, even in the worst of times and he needs to step up and return that support. It also is a matter of respect. I know you feel that divorce is not an option, but you do NOT deserve to be in a marriage where you are the one that is constantly giving--you will lose yourself, the new you that you are working so hard for. Just know that if you have exhausted every avenue (serious discussion, counseling, whatever the case may be), that you still have so much left of life to experience! You are 33 years young and have so much to offer someone that will appreciate it! I will keep you in my prayers. Hopefully hubby will see the terrible loss he may endure and start working on what he needs to! ((HUGS))

LOL--I am the same way about my meat. I can totally relate about the inconsistency. Are you drinking enough Water? The band will get tighter when you are in need of fluids. Do you notice the days you're not taking in as much as you should that you're tighter? Are you able to try ground turkey? It's not chicken, but it's still much softer than red meat. Maybe a nice turkey chili? I am with you--if I couldn't have meat, I would be totally worthless. If you can, I'd see about getting a fluoroscopy to see what your restriction looks like. Who knows, you may even be a smidge too tight. When you say you can eat a mountain some days, can you get the chicken and stuff down or is that sliders? It's like being a detective sometimes, isn't it? LOL

Woohoo Christie! Congrats on your NSV! What an achievement! Crystl--happy to hear restriction is upon you once again! That's just awesome that you're able to shop at VS! That was definitely one of my most exciting milestones LOL (I have about 3 pairs of their "Pink" sweatpants with writing on the butt LOL--it's the little things!) Amy--sorry to hear you had a bad food weekend. You should be very proud of yourself that you didn't resort to the bad things that you know would go down! The band can be tricky sometimes, as we all know. Signs, hmmm. I sometimes get one hiccup when I suppose I'm "full". My problem is if I didn't have the willpower to stop eating, I could continue. I'm pretty sure I have good restriction because I can no longer gulp water, but I have no problem eating a slice of pizza every now and then (which I don't do very often) and I stop myself when I feel I've eaten a reasonable amount. Since I'm about 15 away from my first goal, I'm wondering if I should just leave well enough alone so I can maintain here or if I should go tighter. I have had maybe 2 pb/sliming incidents since my last fill on 5/20, so I'm thinking I could stand another .2 or .3 ccs, but my luck it could be too much and I'd end up having to have it all taken out. Decisions, decisions...... I hope everyone had a nice weekend!! Thanks for all the bday wishes, FB buddies :-)!

They can check to see if you stretched your pouch with fluoroscopy (that's how I actually get my fills). From what you're saying, it doesn't sound like a stretched pouch. The problem is, the "slider" foods, which are so bad for us (but of course taste the best) tend to go down much easier. For your Protein, perhaps try a sugar free pudding with a scoop of Protein powder and some FF cool whip? That's 24 g of protein right there. Do you eat fish? I am allergic, but I hear tilapia is very soft and goes down easily. I love the Breakstone's cottage cheese doubles too--it has the fruit along with the cottage cheese, so it adds some good flavor and is 11 g of protein. For some I know it's tough to find out what works, but if you're pbing Water, I'm not sure a fill will help you any. You need to find a good protein source that will work for you. Perhaps a quick check in with the nut might help as well! Good luck!

Yeah, I guess it wasn't smart to set such an aggressive goal. I am down 1 more lb. Have 10 lbs to go until the 4th of July. Ah, I still can't be upset!!!

I have a muscle milk light as soon as I get up. Breakfast (around 10) is either whole grain cream of wheat with a tsp of sugar free jelly and a cheese stick or a breakstone's cottage cheese doubles. lunch (around 2)is either left over dinner from the night before or a lean cuisine Dinner (around7)is about 4-5 oz of chicken or beef with 1/4 cup of rice and veggie If I get hungry before bed, I'll do 1/2 cup fat free ice cream or a muscle milk or cheese stick.

HOLY CRAP! I'm at 19th and Market!!! I live in Cherry Hill!!!

Make that THREE Philly folk LOL! I work within walking distance from Hahnemann (live in NJ). Small world! I haven't had experience with Hahnemann, but the co-owner of my company's husband is a doctor there. (And I was born at Jeanes Hospital :-))

There is also a pregnancy section of the board. Maybe someone there would know something? Pregnancy with the Lap-band

OMG I am so terribly sorry for your loss!!! I have not known of anyone who has gotten pregnant within the first year after banding, but I just wanted to send you positive thoughts.

My husband begged me not to have the surgery and was dead set against it. I lost 17 lbs before my surgery and he also said, "See, why do you have to have surgery--you're doing it on your own!" Grrrr. He did make an effort to come to a support group meeting to gain some perspective about this from other family members and spouses, and was there with me at the hospital, teary eyed begging me to tell him I wasn't doing this for him. Sometimes, they have a hard way of telling you that they love you just the way you are and they are scared of anything happening to you. Don't worry, he'll come around! You will be such a happy person a few months from now that he will be happy because YOU are :-)!

I think I am going to decrease my calories too. Trouble is, I am so ravenous all the time, it's tough to go under 1200 (which I try to stick to or under), even though it tells me I need to consume 1450. All I know is, I'm just not losing anymore.....I will lose a pound and gain it back the following week. FRUSTRATING! 100g of protein, 90 ounces of water, exercise 4-5 days a week....I just don't know what else to do!